Sophia’s Kitchen and Medical Clinic (Updated December 7, 2015)

(Peoria, Illinois–Photo by John Carroll)

I stopped at Sophia’s Kitchen two weeks ago. It is an outreach food program located on Peoria’s south side and is managed by St. Joseph’s and Sacred Heart Catholic Churches in Peoria. Hundreds of local people are fed lunch there each day by volunteers.

Sophia’s Kitchen is in a neighborhood adjacent to zip code 61605 which is one of the poorest zip codes in the United States. The people receiving lunch look like they are leading hard lives. And I imagined that many of the men don’t have access to regular medical care.

Two years ago Haitian Hearts and I set up a free medical clinic at Ward Chapel which is just a few blocks from Sophia’s Kitchen.

I spoke to one of the Sisters at Sophia’s Kitchen and suggested that we set up a free medical clinic. She agreed immediately and said that she would talk to Monsignor Stanley Deptula who is responsible for St. Joseph and Sacred Heart Churches.

Several days later I spoke with the same Sister and she told me that she spoke with Monsignor Deptula who expressed a positive interest in the idea of a free medical clinic connected with Sophia’s Kitchen. Sister told me that Monsignor Deptula wanted a proposal from me for him to present to The Catholic Diocese of Peoria.

Here is the proposal that I sent Monsignor Deptula–

October 15, 2015

Dear Msgr. Deptula,

I recently spoke with Sister (name redacted) at Sophia’s Kitchen about me setting up a free medical clinic associated with Sophia’s Kitchen. Sister referred me and this proposal to you and The Catholic Diocese of Peoria.

I was at Sophia’s Kitchen the other day and the need for medical care (by my observation) could be significant with that population of people.

I would try and be available whenever the need was greatest combined with the pool of potential patients. This would have to be worked out. I work in Haiti frequently during the course of the year also so I would be unavailable during those time periods.

I do not charge for my services. I have been running a free medical clinic for two years at Ward Chapel in Peoria on Saturday mornings.

I have a type of “good samaritan” malpractice insurance which allows me to see only uninsured patients. The patients cannot have private, Medicare, or Medicaid insurance. If the Diocese was able to provide me with more extensive malpractice insurance which would allow me to see patients already covered by Medicare/Medicaid, this would be very helpful because I could examine and treat more patients at Sophia’s Kitchen…still with no charge to anyone for my services.

I look forward to hearing from you and would be glad to meet with you at any time to discuss this proposal.